Sunday, September 29, 2013

Just dropping by to share some of our adventures in the last week or so.

Brice and I have begun reading Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series with Little. House in the Big Woods. I live to read about the laying in of food in the first chapters of the book. I would have loved to play house among the piles of pumpkins in the attic. The big kids always seem to make their way to the room where we wre reading aloud. I think we all love the Little House.

After reading the part about Ma making butter, we tried our hand at our own. What fun!

Captain America still makes a daily appearance around these parts.

Our dear friend, Lisa, paid us a visit last weekend. It was so good to see a familiar face, especially one we miss so very much!! Looking forward to more exciting company next weekend.

We attended the Koh-Koh-Mah and Foster Encampment and watched a reenactment of a battle from the French and Indian War.

I am working on a plan for how to paint this place when all the wallpaper comes down. Work in progress...

The Indiana Bicentennial Train Exhibit visited Kokomo.

Reeves learned to play Magic at the local game store. Big Bang Theory hard!

We attended a video taping of a local tv show and watched a concert with Shiny Penny. Check 'me out on iTunes. Remember them. I think they are going to go far. Talented kids.

And my favorite adventure, the VW Cruise In! I even picked up a treasure at the swap meet for my collection.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

My intention this year was to post something here daily to mark our year of "home."

My struggles to post lately reflect my inner struggle to pinpoint my place here in our new home and new hometown. Nothing to worry about. I came with very few of my former responsibilities, so my personal place in this community can now evolve into something new for me. That's exciting.

My inner voice is telling me to be still and listen instead of pushing to speak. So, I will not be posting here daily. I will post, but it will be when I have something I truly want to share, not just to fill a calendar. Fall is typically a very creative time for me, so we'll be together here again soon.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

I do not have a green thumb. Both of my parents do, but that talent skipped over me. Really, though, I should just own up to the fact that I find the repetition boring. I love planning and planting, but the constant weeding, watering, and upkeep is beyond my interest. I would love to take a master gardener class, but would I use it?

When we bought this house, I was a little disappointed that there were so many rose bushes. they are beautiful, but oh boy, roses take work. They all appeared to have finished blooming, and I wondered if we should just dig them up and give them away instead of allowing them to die a long death under my neglect.

When my parents visited, my dad gave me a lesson in pruning and within a week they were blooming again! Pruning, I can handle. Seeing new buds, I can enjoy.

I still don't have a clue how to prep them for winter or fertilize them or help them survive this heat wave, but I have a start. They are doing ok by luck right now and I am growing attached to them. Maybe I can nurture them and my own green thumb.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Yesterday, we joined some local homeschoolers at the park, where Reeves met a kindred spirit who loves Yugioh, Minecraft, and all manner of techie pastimes just as much as he does. So happy he has found someone here to share his interests and friendship.

Last night, during a visit from his new friend, and his sweet mom, we celebrated Reeves birthday early with a two layer rice krispie treat cake, complete with buttercream icing and sour nerds for sprinkles. A sweet tooth's dream!!

Presents before bed, and a day off today to try them out, complete with root beer floats at dinner...I think this birthday has been pretty sweet (pun intended).

For so many years, I have noted that Reeves seemed so much older than his years. All of a sudden, eleven sounds so old. Is he really eleven? Wow!

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Today, Embree said she was in the market for a larger bag so she could keep more things with her like she did when she carried a big purse. I was reminded of one of my favorite blog posts of years past.

Originally posted 9/28/09. Embree was 10 years old. Sweet!

Embree...then

I have neglected to post recently because I have neglected to take pictures recently and think I have to add pictures whenever I post. A vicious cycle. Today, I have something to write about that is truly amazing to me. Embree asked to borrow one of my purses. I wondered if she planned to use it as a book bag or something…no…it’s her new purse. After watching her lug it around all over town today I asked her if she would tell me what in the world she was carrying around. Here’s the list…as she gave it to me…seriously!

A kitten bottle (a real nursing bottle she bought at tractor supply Saturday)
A stuffed cat
An unopened spool of ribbon
Two jingly cat toys
A squeaky dog toy
A Ziploc back filled with more ribbon, cat food, a jingly bell on a string, a mouse on a string, a bottle of water
A book about dogs & cats
Her Epipen
A hand mirror
A Neopet dinosaur from Burger King
A hairbrush
Two pair of oobi eyes
A pinwheel
A small plastic doggie with bowl
A ring with a cat on it
A big bouncy ball
A tiny, heart-shaped journal
Chapstick
Lipgloss
An orange pencil eraser
A hair bow
A target card with $4
Her library card
3 $1 bills, 6 quarters, 10 nickles, 13 dimes, 16 pennies, and 1 Canadian penny

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

I understand, now, why my mom seemed to become a better cook whenever we moved to a new town. She would spend the months before she really got involved in a new place in the kitchen to occupy herself.

This is the first time, maybe since we were married, that I haven't held at least a part time job outside the home. No night classes or after dinner rehearsals. No grading papers, other than my own children's. No making costumes, building sets, or wrangling a cast of 100.

My focus, right now at least, is narrowly focused on home. Now, that's fine. I am not complaining. I am sure I will wrap myself up in some new business soon, but right now I am happy to have a little extra time to pursue some personal goals and hone in on our homeschool plan.

One such goal is to become a better baker. I have always loved baking, but for some reason my results have always been a little clunky. I know part if it is my reluctance to bake with bleached, all purpose flour. I am hesitant to use even unbleached all purpose flour, but that trade off leaves me with bricks instead of cookies and bread instead of pie crust.

So, I am trying to master some of the techniques using unbleached AP flour, so that I can then test changes in the recipes with either whole wheat or gluten free flours. Knowing the beast first will help in modifying the beast...that's the assumption anyway. We'll see.

Today's project, Tarte Tatin.

I have avoided Tarte Tatin for awhile now. Maybe it's the pie crust. Maybe it's the French name. Maybe it's the flip at the end that could bring it all crashing down ( or as my family calls it, the "flip and cuss.")

Once again, my guide, Mark Bittman, new what he was talking about. Maybe I can cook everything! Clean plates and full tummies all around.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

I love the fact that Reeves wanted to do tomorrow's math tonight at 10:00pm, even if I was headed for bed.

I love the fact that, yesterday, Embree decided she would, for the first time ever, open a cookbook and make cupcakes for the family...solo.

I love the fact that Brice is teaching himself to read based on his need to know information to further his interests.

Homeschooling, like all parenting duties, can be a thankless job. It can hard to see measurable progress in the heat of the moment. There are days, though, when I remember to watch for the sweet moments, when I am just certain that this is exactly where I need to be and how I should be spending my life.

Honestly, I have never had a recipe of his fail in my kitchen. That says a great deal about both his writing and his testing. His recipes are simple and so easy to follow, but they are written in such a way that a cook can make any recipe his or her own with simple variations.

In early August Apple offered the app for How to Cook Everything for free. I have checked that book out at the library so many times and just love it. so I tried the app. It is so thorough and easy to use, I would go back and pay the full price if I had to. I have used it more than any app I have ever downloaded and I have NEVER had a failed recipe. I am considering buying the app for How to Cook Everything Vegetarian.

One of the best features is the illustrated kitchen basics tutorials. I am using them to help the kids learn knife and prep skills, dough techniques, and basic cooking essentials.

Can you tell I am smitten? I thought about writing this post the week I downloaded the app, but decided to wait and see if I was still as enamored after the initial joy.Yes, I must say it has become a daily go to in meal planning and basic recipes.

Whether you have Apple technology to download this app,or if you can get it at the library or on Kindle, I encourage you to give Mark Bittman's work a look. He's a great teacher, author, and chef.

Below is a recipe from the app for muffins that we make at least once a week. I have substituted whole wheat flour with great success. My guess is that a nice gluten free baking mix would do just fine. I have used coconut oil in place of the butter and nondairy milks and raw milk in place of regular milk. I often use blueberries, as they have been in season and are a family favorite, but I have added cheese and finely chopped vegetables as well. This morning I made a batch with dark chocolate chips and some frozen sour cherries. They were delicious, as every batch has been. These are certainly our go-to now.

Enjoy and check out Mark Bittman!

Namaste

Recipe:
Muffins, Infinite WaysBy Mark BittmanFrom the How to Cook Everything® appIntroduction:
The only real difference between muffins and other quick breads is the pan you bake them in. But those little muffin cups allow for a lot more potential variation, depending on what you do at the last minute before baking.
Anything goes when it comes to varying this master recipe, including the suggestions for Fruit‐and‐Nut or Vegetable‐and‐Nut Bread. See 13 Additions To Virtually Any Quick Bread, Muffins, Biscuits, or Scones for more ways to spike recipe. And for a more dessert like muffin, see the Sweet and Rich Muffins variation.Ingredients:

3 tablespoons melted butter or neutral oil, like grapeseed or corn, plus more for the muffin tin

2 cups all‐purpose flour

¼ cup sugar, or to taste

½ teaspoon salt

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 egg

1 cup milk, plus more if needed

Steps:

Heat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 12‐cup muffin tin and line it with paper or foil muffin cups if you like.

Mix together the dry ingredients in a bowl. Beat together the egg, milk, and melted butter or oil in another bowl. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients into it. Using a large spoon or rubber spatula, combine the ingredients swiftly, stirring and folding rather than beating and stopping as soon as all the dry ingredients are moistened. The batter should be lumpy, not smooth, and thick but quite moist; add a little more milk or other liquid if necessary.

Spoon the batter into the muffin tins, filling them about two‐thirds full and handling the batter as little as possible. (If you prefer bigger muffins, fill 8 cups almost to the top; pour ¼ cup water into the empty cups.) Bake for about 20 minutes (about 30 minutes for larger muffins) or until nicely browned and a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before taking them out of the tin. Serve warm.

About Me

tiny arms around your neck, building with legos, rescuing homeless cats, quiet mornings in a rocker on the front porch with your love. All the rest keeps us connected to the "real world" but...SHHHHH...this is the real world for us.
We are a homeschooling family who spends the school year in Midwest and the summers in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina...as much of that outside as possible!